PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Gardner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ippo Makunouchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gardner comes to the cage accompanied by Stavesacre - Minuteman. Ippo Makunouchi is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Gardner
vs
Makunouchi

163 cm
26
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
23
160 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aaron Gardner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ippo Makunouchi!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Bruno Lombardi and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makunouchi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Gardner counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gardner wants to pass the guard but Makunouchi is keeping the position.
Gardner controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gardner content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gardner controls from within his opponent's guard.
Makunouchi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Makunouchi shoots in but no luck this time.
Makunouchi misses with a series of wild punches.
Makunouchi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gardner defends it nicely.
Aaron Gardner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ippo Makunouchi.
Makunouchi shoots in looking for a takedown. Gardner tries to sprawl out of it but Makunouchi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gardner manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gardner fails to land with a series of punches.
Gardner fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Makunouchi tries for a takedown but Gardner sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Gardner shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Gardner trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gardner lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Makunouchi won't allow Gardner to pass to mount.
Gardner working over Makunouchi with some ground and pound. Makunouchi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Gardner is nestled in close to Makunouchi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Gardner content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gardner landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Gardner performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Gardner thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Makunouchi's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gardner lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Makunouchi has hold of Gardner's hands but Gardner slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Gardner dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gardner throws a series of strikes that have Makunouchi backpedaling.
Makunouchi moves away from the strike by Gardner.
Some wild striking there from Gardner.
Makunouchi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gardner swivels and escapes.
Aaron Gardner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Gardner is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Makunouchi's half guard.
Gardner sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gardner lands a nice short elbow.
Gardner prevents Makunouchi from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardner scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gardner lands strikes from half guard.
Gardner works his foot free and advances to mount.
Gardner controlling the pace for now.
Gardner landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardner controlling his opponent.
Gardner landing strikes from the mount and Makunouchi is in trouble!
Gardner scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gardner lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Gardner cracks Makunouchi with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Gardner has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Makunouchi is bucking up trying to escape but Gardner cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardner tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
BOOM! Gardner connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Makunouchi taking shots to the head.
Gardner controlling from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Gardner cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Gardner connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gardner with shots to the head and body - Makunouchi looks very uncomfortable down there.
The referee warns Makunouchi that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Gardner raining down hammerfists from mount.

Makunouchi is rocked!
Gardner postures up and throws a big right hand. BOOM! Right on the button! Makunouchi is out cold - huge knockout for Gardner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Aaron Gardner!